dade

For those who are already in Australia, what were your biggest challenges when you got there? If you could share a couple of things that you found challenging that you would advise any new immigrants to be prepared for that would be great.

Thanks
Sani

dade

Oops, excuse my spelling!

sasbear

I think the whole 'new' thing of not knowing how things worked - ie tax and insurance for cars etc

iPom

Getting used to cockroaches.

NickyP

For us one of our main problems was the fact that we had certain expectations of living in a city (Wangaratta is technically a city) but it took a while to realise that Wangaratta is actually more like living in a small village in the UK. Once we got our heads around that we found things a lot easier and have really begun to feel more settled. Our only other real challenge has been , and still is, getting our teenager settled.
Nicky

jad n rich

To get the entire family to agree at any one time on who is staying, whos going back, who hates it, who loves it, think we have covered every possible scenario in the last 5 years and dare say it will continue as long as we live here :scared: In fact as they get older it gets worse.

NickyP

Sounds a bit like our house
Nicky

DebraH

to keep my hands behind my back instead of strangling the OH because he's managed to wind me up once again

Wendy

Yes, with you there!!

DebraH

they certainly have the knack don't they

hows it going Wendy

Wendy

Going really well thanks. Kids all settled, hubby nearly done his course, nice house in a nice area, lovely neighbours. Life is good (be better when he gets a job though )

How about you?

renth

Wife's homesickness, having to get a brand new social circle from scratch and trying not to appear too desperate - "will you be my friend?", finding a suburb you like, getting a job.

It's pretty tough. I'm glad I've done it but I would NOT like to have to do it all over again, no way.

cresta57

I think the biggest challenge was surviving while unable to work because of licence delays. I did odd jobs and even trips out on prawn trawlers and crab boats to make a bit of spare cash.
The second biggest challenge was living with my parents for 18 months and not murdering either of them, not an experience I'd ever like to repeat.

iPom

Not murdering them was not an experience you want to repeat?


Hmmmmmmm....

amanda34

I think the worst thing is actually having in your mind what it will be like, what you will do, how your life will be different as it really does not turn out that way and it takes time to slot into things but it really is different (great but different to what you picture in your mind).

The shopping is another, you really have to be prepared and always have enough milk, bread etc in the house as popping out to the shop in the evening, early morning or on a Sunday is pretty impossible....and thats in a city!!